Folding chair



E. c. BOOTH FOLDING CHAIR Aug. 26, 1952 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed July 14, 1949 INVENTOR. 1 Eme; C-aorn,

Patented Aug. 26, 1952 FOLDING CHAIR Earl C. Booth, Columbus, Ind., assigner to Arvin Industries, Inc., a corporation of Indiana Application Jury 14, 1949, serial No. 104,641

8 Claims.

This invention relates to a chair and more particularly to a chair of the type embodylng a pair of side frames .interconnected by acollapsible brace structure and by exible back-terminar and seatforming elements, the arrangement beingsuch thatthe two side frames may be moved towardeach other to collapse the chair. The invention is primarily concerned with a collapsible chair having side frames and other rigid elements formed of metal tubing.

It is an object of the invention to produce a` collapsible chair which can be simply and economically constructed, and which will prove sturdy and durable in use.

In'carrying o-ut the invention I provide a pair of vside frames each formed of three lengths of metal tubing. lOne length of such tubing forms a rear leg and back support, another length forms a front leg and arm, and the third length forms a stretcher rigidly interco-nnecting the lower ends of the front and rear legs. For a distance above the level of the seat when the chair is extended, the front and rear tubular legs are collapsed and given a channel shape in cross-section, the channels thus formed opening toward each other to receive for vertical sliding movement the ends of a seat-supporting member. The seat-supporting member associated with each side frame is connected Athrough a U-shaped brace with the stretcher of the other side frame, the parallel arms of the two U-shaped braces crossing each other and being pivotally secured together. The interconnection betweenv the braces and the stretchers is pivotal in character; and as a result, the two side frames can be moved toward or away from each other While the braces swing relatively about their axis of pivotal interconnection and -theseat-supporting members slide up and down the channel-forming portions of the fro-nt and rear legs.

1 A seat, comprising a strip ofl canvas or similar flexible material, is secured to the two seat-supporting members. In addition, the rear legs desirably project upwardly beyond the rear ends of the arms -to be received in hems at the ends of a back formed of canvas or similar flexible material. The U-shaped braces are desirably formed of tubing and have their ends ilattened and bent to cooperate with slots in the stretchers in a manner to -be more fully described hereinafter.

vThe accompanying drawingsy illustrate the invention: n

Figs. 1 and 2 are perspective views respectively showing a chair 'embodying my invention in extended and collapsed conditions; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the chair-'With portions broken away and shown in section; Fig. 4 is a vertical section on the line ll-- of the Fig. 3; Fig'. 5 is a fraglnental plan View and Fig. 6 a section on the lin-e 6 6 of Fig. 5 illustrating details of the mannerV in -which the braces are connected to the stretchers;` Fig. 7 is a fragmental section on the line 'I-'I of Fig. 3 illustrating a connection between the seat, aseat-supporting member, and a brace; Fig. 8 is a side elevation or a modified form of chair; Fig. 9 is a fragmental section on the line 9--9 of Fig. 10 showing a modied method of interconnecting the braces and stretchers; Fig. 10 is a side elevation of the construction shown in Fig. 9; and Fig. 11 is afragmen'tal plan view 4of. the same construction.

The chair illustrated in Figs. 1 to '7 comprises a -pair of side frames each including a front leg I5, rear leg I6, and a stretcher I1, all formed of metal tubing. The upper portion of each front leg I 5 is bent at right angles to extend hori` zontally and to form an arm I8 which joins and is securedto the rear leg I 6 at a point below the upper end thereof.

Beginning a-t the point where it meets the rear end of the karm I 8 and continuing downwardly fo-r a distance, the :metal tubing of which the rear leg I6 is formed is collapsed, as indicated at 20, and given` an arcuate form in` crosssection t0 provide a forwardly presented, vertically extending channel. Beginning at the elevation of the lower end of the channel 20, and continuing upwardly, the metal tubing of which th-e front leg I5 is formed is similarly collapsed and shaped in cross-section to provide rearwardly presented channel 2l. If desired, the channel 2| may continue throughout the extent of the arm I8. At the lower end of the channel 26 and at the lower end of the'channel 2|, the vmetal wall constituting the inner thickness of the channel is transversely sli-t, and the metal outwardly beyond such slit is bent, as indicated at 23, to provide an abutment or stop. The upper abutment 23 serves to locate the rear end of the arm I8, while the lower abutment 23 limits downward movement of a sea-tsupporting member 24 the ends of which are.

slidably' received in the channels Ziland 2I.

The ends of each stretcher I l, which are desirably formed in the manner set forth in my copending application Serial No. 113,550, led September l, 1949, to form feet 26, are rigidly secured respectively to the lower ends of the front and rear legs I 5 and I 6. Near each end and in its inner face, each stretcher I'I is prov1ded with a pair of co-eXtensive depressions 28 to form a double-thickness rib 29. The two walls of each rib 29 are provided with aligned slots which receive the arcuate curved end 30 of a brace member 3|. Each of the brace members 3| is desirably formed of the length of metal tubing bent into a U-shape to provide two parallel legs and an intermediate leg, as will be clear from Fig. 3. The intermediate legs of the brace members 3| are secured respectively to the two seat-supporting members 24; and from such seat-supporting members, the braces extend in crossed relation into association with the stretchers ll. Where the parallel legs of the brace 3| cross each other, they are pivotally se-` cured together as by means of aligned bolts or rivets 32. At i-ts ends, each tubular brace member is flattened, as indicated at 33 in Fig. v5, and the double-thickness iiattened portion is notchedat its corners to provide shoulders 34 separated by a central tongue which cons-titutes the curved end 30 previously referred-to.

.4ly seat for the chair is provided by a strip 36 of canvas or some similar flexible material the opposite ends of which are respectively secured to the seat-supporting members24. Conveniently, the ends of the seat 36 are hemmed, the seat-supporting members are placed Within the hems, and each seat-supporting member is secured to its associated brace member by screws 31 which pass through the seat-supporting member 2l. andinto the intermediate leg of the brace 3|, as will be clear from Fig. 7. Preferably, the seat-supporting member is arcuate in cross-section to conform to the exterior surface of the brace 3|.v Y

The upper ends of the rear legs l 6 conveniently continue upwardly beyond the arm I8 and are given a slight rearward inclination. A back 40 of canvas or other suitable flexible material is provided at its ends with hems which can be slipped over the upper ends of the rear legs I6, as will be clear from the drawing. At itsr ends, each of the seat-supporting members 24- mayv be formed to provide generally cylindrical trunnions 4| slidably received in the channels 20 and 2 It will be clear from Fig. 6 that the curved tongues 3U cooperate with the aligned slots in the ribs 29 to provide a pivotal interconnection between eachbrace 3| and i-ts associated stretcher Il. This pivotal interconnection permits the two side frames of the chair to be moved toward and away fromI each other, the braces swinging about their points of pivotal connection with the stretchers |I and the seat-supporting members 24 sliding up and down in the channels 2U and` 2| Separation of the two side frames is limited b-y engagement of the trunnions 4| with the lips or stops 23 in the lower ends of the channels 20 and 2|. The seat 3s and back 40 are made of such length that they will be reasonably straight when the side frames reach the limits of their separation.v

The modiiied chair illustrated in Figs. 8 to 10 is-generally similar to that above described except that the lower portions of the front. legs I and |6 are bent to diverge ldownwardly while a rocker t5 is substituted for each of the stretchers l1. An additional diierence between the chair of Figs. 8 -to l1 and the chair of Figs. .1 to 7 Alies in` the manner in which the ends of ythe braces 3| are connected to the rocker-likestretchers 45. As will be clear from Figs. 9 to 11, the metal of each rocker 45 adjacent each end of the associated brace '3| is displaced inwardly ofthe rocker to form a depression 46 havingY a generally horizontal lower wall 41. Each lower wall 41 is provided with a slot loosely receiving a tongue 30' on the adjacent lowerend of the associated brace 3|. The tongue 30' is much the same as the tongue 30 shown in Figs. 5 and 6, but it is curved in the opposite direction; and since it extends through only one slot in the wall oi' the tubing its end lies within the tubing, where it is concealed.V c f. l

If the tubes forming the front `and rear legs are bent in only one plane, as is the case in the chair shown in the drawing, corresponding legs on both sides of the chair may be identical. The U--shaped braces 3| may also be identical, both the` parallel. legs of one brace lying in rear of the parallelv legsV of the other brace. In addition, if the center-line of the brace-assembly is disposed midway between the front and rear legs, the two stretchers Il may also be identical in form although reversed in position. All this identity in form of elements on the opposite sides of the chair reduces die expense. and manufacturing cost.

The curvedform ofthe tongues 30 or 30" prevents. their removal from the slots ,whichl receive themY when the chair is assembled; because, in the assembled chair, `swinging movement of vthe bra-ces 3| is limited to an extent Which kprevents withdrawal of the tongues fromV the slots; At the same time, the tongues permit such swinging movement of the braces as is'necessary` in the collapse and extension of the chair. It will be notedV that the ailective pivotal connection between the braces 3| and the stretchers Il o1' rockers 45 involves no pivot pins, bolts, or rivets and no projecting. ears or brackets for lthe support of such pivot members; ,and the appearance of the chair is thus improved and its manufacture simplified.

I claim as my invention:

l. In a chair, a pair of relatively movable side frames each including rigidly interconnected frontand rear legs, a horizontal seat support mounted' forY vertical sliding movement in each side frame, means for moving each seat support vertically in its associatedside frame as the side frames are moved towardand away from .each other, and a flexible seat secured to and extending rbetween said side supports, the frontand rear legs of each side frame being formed of. metal tubing collapsed over portions of. the lengths of the legs and formed into channelswhich open toward each other and slidably receive the ends of the associated seat support.

2. In a chair, a .pair of relatively movable side frames each including rigidly interconnected front and rear legs, a horizontal seat support mounted for vertical-sliding movement in each side frame, means for moving each seat supportl vertically in its associated side'frame Aas the side frames are moved toward `and away from each other, .and a flexible -seat secured 'to and extending between said side'supports, the front and rear legs of each sideframe being formed of metal tubing collapsed over portions of the lengths 'of the legs .and vformed into channels which slldably receivethe endsof the associated seat support.

3. A. chair as -set forth in claim 2 with the addition that the inner thickness of each co1- lapsed portion is slit transversely at the 'lower end of ythe collapsed portion', the metal below such slit being bent to extend horizontally and form a shoulder :engageableA by the adjacent' end of the lseat support to li-mit downward. movement thereon l Y 4. In a chair, a pair of relatively movable side frames each including front and rear legs and a stretcher secured to and rigidly interconnecting the lower ends of the legs, a horizontal seat support vertically slidable in each side frame, and links attached respectively to said seat supports and extending downwardly and inwardly therefrom in crossed relation into association with the opposite stretchers, Said stretchers being formed of metal tubing and provided with slots, said links having at their lower ends curved tongues received in said slots and providing pivotal interconnection between the stretchers and links, each of said links extending in a direction tangential to the curved tongue at its end.

5. In an articulated structure, a member formed of metal tubing, a swingable link, a portion of the metal of said tubing being displaced inwardly to form a depression having a wall extending generally radially of the tubing, said wall being provided with a slot, said link being provided at one end with a curved tongue extending through said slot and into the interior of the tube, said link extending in a direction tangential to said curved tongue.

6. In an articulated structure, a member formed of metal tubing, a swingable link, a portion of the metal of said tubing being displaced inwardly to form a depression having a wall extending generally radially of the tubing, said wall being provided with a slot, said link being provided at one end with a curved tongue extending through said slot, said link extending in a direction tangential to said curved tongue.

7. In an articulated structure, a member formed of metal tubing. a swingable link, portions of the metal of said tubing being displaced inwardly of aligned slots, said link being provided at one end with a curved tongue extending through both said slots.

8. In a chair, a pair ofA relatively movable sidel frames each including front and rear legs and a stretcher secured to and rigidly interconnecting the lower ends of the legs, a horizontal seat support vertically slidable in each side frame, and links attached respectively to said seat supports and extending downwardly and inwardly therefrom in crossed relation into association with the opposite stretchers, said stretchers being formed of metal tubing and having in the upper inner quadrants of their cross-section inwardly offset portions providing substantially horizontal walls, each of said horizontal walls being provided with a slot extending longitudinally of the associated stretcher, said links having at their lower ends curved tongues extending respectively through said slots| into the interior of the stretchers and providing pivotal interconnection between the stretchers and links.

EARL C'. BOOTH.

REFERENCES CKTED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 950,194 Stockwell Feb. 22, 1910 1,856,759 Grondin May 3, 1932 1,905,830 Ericson Apr. 25, 1933 

